Mustangs swept in pool

STOCKTON - A desperation shot from the middle of June Fergusson Pool was stuffed short of the goal Wednesday.

Mark Godi

STOCKTON - A desperation shot from the middle of June Fergusson Pool was stuffed short of the goal Wednesday.

The Delta College men's water polo team got possession of the ball against American River with one second left. Goalkeeper Stephen Barrington fired the ball, hoping only for a deflection into the net, but Cory Davis got the block and the Mustangs lost 15-14. The Delta women lost earlier in the afternoon 15-6 to American River.

Afterward, Delta men's coach Mike Maroney spoke little about the ending. He focused instead on a second period in which his team got off three shots and allowed four unanswered goals.

"The game was decided with our inaccurate passes and our aggressiveness," Maroney said. "I don't mind being aggressive and (getting into transition) early, but we have to play defense first."

Among Delta's costliest passes came with 3:00 left. American River was down a player on penalty, when Pedro Moraes intercepted a lazy pass. A goal by Delta (8-7, 0-3 Big 8 Conference) then would have tied the game.

Delta rallied after trailing 12-9 late in the third period, finishing the game on a 5-3 run, with each goal from a different player. Austrian freshman Manuel Zorn led the Mustangs with four goals. Barrington had 12 saves, two steals and two assists.

The American River women (7-8, 4-0) never trailed in their game and didn't allow a goal until the third minute of the second period. Alejandra Vera got the break and delivered after a steal by Ashlyn Daniels. It was Delta's only goal out of 11 attempts in the period.

Vera led Delta (4-13, 1-3) with four goals, while Victoria Dettloff and Ashlyn Hulse had the other goals. Dettloff led the team with two assists.

"American River is a good team, the best in our conference," Delta women's coach Nathan Varosh said. "To score six goals on them is a good job."